Folate Serum Folate
A B vitamin from greens and dal that helps build new cells.
Also printed asFolate (Vitamin B9) · Folic Acid · Vitamin B9 · B9 · Red Cell Folate
What it measures
A B-vitamin from greens and pulses used to build every new cell.
Works with B12 to make red cells and to clear homocysteine; a shortfall enlarges red cells in exactly the same way.
Why it matters for how long you stay well
It works alongside B12 in the same chemistry, so a shortage of either one shows up the same way in your blood and both need checking before either is corrected.
How it shows up in daily life
Running low can leave you tired and sore-mouthed, and it makes red cells come out too large.
High and low readings
When it reads high
Usually from supplements or fortified food.
When it reads low
Low folate slows red cell production and raises homocysteine.
What moves it
Daily life
- green leafy vegetables, dal and beans
- overcooking vegetables, which destroys it
- alcohol
- pregnancy, which raises the need
Read it with
Markers that move this one, or that this one moves. One number read alone can mislead.
- Red cell sizeKnown mechanism
As this rises, Red cell size falls as it rises
A folate shortage causes exactly the same oversized cells as a B12 shortage. That is why both have to be checked before either one is corrected.
- HomocysteineKnown mechanism
As this rises, Homocysteine falls as it rises
Folate does the same clearing job in the same chemistry. So a folate shortage pushes homocysteine up exactly the way a B12 shortage does.
Common questions
What does Serum Folate measure?
A B-vitamin from greens and pulses used to build every new cell. Works with B12 to make red cells and to clear homocysteine; a shortfall enlarges red cells in exactly the same way.
What does a high Folate result usually mean?
Usually from supplements or fortified food.
What does a low Folate result usually mean?
Low folate slows red cell production and raises homocysteine.
What is the usual reference range for Folate?
A broad adult reference band is 4–20 ng/mL. Labs differ, so read your result against the band printed on your own report.
Educational only, not a diagnosis. A single number means little without your history and the rest of your panel, so discuss your own results with your physician.
Typical adult reference band
- Adults
- 4–20 ng/mL
Labs differ. The band printed on your own report is the one that applies to your result.
Reported in ng/mL
Ageing relevance
3/5
A moderate ageing association; used in clinical longevity panels.
Worth knowing
Its name comes from the Latin word for leaf, because it was first found in spinach.
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